Improvement in unloading grain from cars



UNITED STATns ELIPHALET M. CLARK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN UNLADlNC- @PLAIN FROM'CAHS.

To @ZZ whom/t may concern:

Be it known that 1, ELIPHALET M. CLARK, I

ol" Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Machine for Unloading Grain from Cars, and I do hereby declare the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the drawing and model accompanying this specication and making a part thereof, the drawing being in perspective, and the simplicity of the machine requiring no other view.

The nature of my invention consists in the use of a shovel or scraper, or its equivalent, attached by a rope, or its equivalent, to machinery, to work the same outside ofthe car, 1

for the speedy and economical unloading of grain from the same.

To enable others skilled in mechanics to make and use my invention, I will describe its construct-ion and operation.

S is the floor of Ithe ware-house, and It the floor of the car alongside to discharge its grain.

A is an iron frame secured to the floor S in a substantial manner, and carrying' the shaft I, which is driven by the pulley J. Upon the shaft I is the sliding clutch D, controlled by the forked lever (l, which is controlled by means ofthe connecting-rod H, thelever G, and the vibrating' ball F. The lever G is provided with a loop, through which the rope T, connect ing the machinery with the scraper N, is seen to pass.. Upon the rope T there are two fixed collars, P K, which work the clutch D in or out of gear with the loose drum B, as the said collars impinge upon alternate sides of said loop in the lever G in the process of working the machine. The drum B runs loosely upon the shaft I, and to this drum one end of the rope T is firmly attached, while the other end is attached to the scraper N by means ofthe hooks V V. This rope passes under the fric- 't'ion-roll E to keep it firmly in its proper posi` tion in the loop ofthe lever G, and through the apex of the triangular frame L, where the friction-rollers M M enable the scraper to be carried to and worked freely from either end of the car. The triangular frame L swings easily in its hin ge-bearings O O,which are bolted firmly to the floor S, and when swung forward in position for work its apex is just within the door of the car, and when not required for use can be swung back upon the frame A.

Q is a hollow stud fastened to the frame A, and carrying within it a spring and piston which is projected against the flange of the drum B to check its recoil when thrown out of gear while at work.

The mode of operating my invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, and it will be readily seen by description that in seizing the scraper by the handles z z and carrying the same back into the car to he un loaded, the rope is freely delivered from the loose drum B, until the collar K impinges upon the loop of lever G, which trips the vibrating ball Il, by means of which the forked lever C throws the clutch D into gear with the drum B, and carries the same with it, winding up the rope T and bringing forward the scraper with its load of grain to the mouth of the ear, when the fixed collar P is brought into contact with the looped lever G and reverses its action, throwing the clutch D out of gear, and thus relieving' the scraper to return for another load.

The hooks o lv, to which the ropes are attached for working it, are open at top, which, in case of its meeting unyielding obstacles while working, enables the ropes to unhook themselves as the top of the scraper is thrown forward out ofthe power of the workman to control.

In cases where it is impracticable or inconvenient to throw the drum into gear by means of a knob or protuberanee on the cord, by reason of the unequal distance to which the shovel is drawn from the drum, I propose to employ a cord attached to the clutch-lever G, and passing around suitable guides or pulleys to the interior of the car,where, by means of removable or adjustable attachments, it is placed in convenient reach of the hand of the operator. The drum will be thrown out of gear by the automatic device rst described, and the operator, after having drawn the shovel back to the required distance andplace, pulls the cord to throw the clutch into gear and the work then proceeds as before. The attachments of this cord may consist of a suitable number of pulleys and fixed hooks, or of movable pulleys attached to the rafters or approaches the end of its stroke, substantially as herein described.

2. The hinged or swinging frame L, employed in combination with the shovel N and drum B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The automatic clutch-movement G D F G H, operating' in combination with the aforesaid shovel N, drum B, and cord T, substantially as specified.

ELXPHALET M. CLARK.

Witnesses v BENJ. LATER-or,

DAVID R.. Primes. 

